Princess Leonor begins political science degree at Madrid university: All about Spain’s future queen’s education
At just 20 years old, Princess Leonor of Spain is stepping into one of the most significant phases of her life: she’s beginning a political science degree at Carlos III University in Madrid. As reported by CBS News, On September 7, she arrived at the Getafe campus, dressed down in jeans and trainers, surrounded by curious classmates, a crowd of onlookers, and the ever-present security detail. 28 Jul 2026 | 16:22 Even so, the university made a real effort to treat her like any other first-year student. Her schedule was packed with orientation sessions, and she joined a group of around 40 peers for her core classes.
This is more than just about attending classes and writing essays: Leonor is gearing up for her destiny as Spain’s queen. Despite the cameras flashing and the obvious fuss, she reportedly greeted everyone with a simple, “I’m arriving with great enthusiasm. It almost sounds ordinary, but let’s be honest, nothing about her first day was ever going to feel completely normal. She dove straight into introductions to legal theory, research methodology, and the basics of political science. University officials were quick to point out that Leonor received no special advantages in admissions; she had to earn her place just like everyone else. It’s a statement meant to reassure both her classmates and the public: Leonor isn’t just learning about power and politics from above; she’s participating in the daily grind that shapes future leaders.
But at 16, she shifted gears in a big way: she left Spain for two years at UWC Atlantic College in Wales, a famously diverse and international environment. Moreover, her academic program goes much further than just lectures and exams. Alongside political science, Leonor will study humanities, law, economics, sociology, history, and international relations. These areas aren’t just checkboxes in a royal resume; they’re central to understanding Spain’s political structure, its role internationally, and the expectations of modern constitutional monarchy. With every seminar and paper, Leonor is working through what it means to eventually serve as head of state in a country that’s changed massively in just her father’s generation. To see how carefully planned her path has been, it helps to look back. Per Casa Real, as a child, Leonor attended Santa María de los Rosales, the same school her father, King Felipe VI, went to. There, she wasn’t living in a palace or even in a private house; she stayed on campus alongside other students from all over the world, sharing dorms and mealtimes just like anyone else. The school’s philosophy combines academic rigor with community service, sports, and creative activities, so Leonor’s experience went way beyond textbooks. It was her chance to step outside the royal bubble and see life as different people know it. Of course, Leonor’s background ties her closely to her father’s footsteps. King Felipe went through a similar blend of academic and military training, starting at Rosales, spending time at school in Canada, and then doing stints in all three military branches before studying law and economics at Madrid’s Autonomous University. But every royal family brings their own twist: Queen Letizia, Leonor’s mother, was a successful journalist with years in newspapers, agencies, and broadcast TV behind her before she married Felipe and joined the royal household. Her outside perspective has arguably helped shape Leonor’s more modern, outward-looking preparation.
The highlights included a training voyage on the Juan Sebastián de Elcano and qualifying as a paratrooper in 2026, which was a first for a Spanish royal. By 2027, she’ll hold commissioned ranks in all three military branches, completing one of the most rigorous military preparations any European royal heir has tackled in years. For the unversed, Princess Leonor, born on October 31, 2005, is the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and next in line to the Spanish throne.
After Wales, Leonor didn’t head straight to university. Instead, she spent three years training in Spain’s armed forces. This wasn’t some token stint; she rotated through the Army, Navy, and Air and Space branches, taking on the kind of tough, demanding military training expected of any future commander-in-chief. Now, preparing a future queen isn’t about cloistering her in comfort. Choosing a public university isn’t just a symbolic move; it’s about feeling the everyday pulse of Spanish life, mingling with students from different backgrounds, and actually listening to the debates and concerns happening on campus. Of course, life as Princess Leonor will always be a bit different. There will always be advisers, security, and perhaps an inescapable sense of being watched. But this educational journey, from her early school days in Madrid and Wales to her military drills and now the university classroom, is about more than preparing to wear a crown. It’s about getting the broadest possible experience of Spain itself — its people, its challenges, and the realities she’ll eventually be called to serve as queen. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day.
Today, Leonor has to be ready for changing public attitudes: a Spain that’s more diverse, more critical, and more connected to the world than in previous generations.